Chapter 36: Girl's Courage
Even though it has been a long time ago, Fang Wei still remembers the experience of interviewing for a job in Shanghai when he was 19 years old and had only a high school education.
Holding a pale resume, looking at the towering buildings intimidated;
Nervousness, embarrassment, and feeling overwhelmed after being rejected;
He is actually not introverted, but job-seeking communication is different from daily communication. It has a clear purpose, just like various elections.
Because I care about the result, I am nervous; because I am not confident, I lack confidence.
Past regrets and experiences have largely reshaped Fang Wei's character and ideas.
As a person who has experienced life and death, now standing on the podium, facing the classmates and teachers below, let alone anything else, you can imagine that Fang Wei feels nervous. That is absolutely impossible.
Because he has enough confidence in himself, confidence in his achievements, confidence in communication, and confidence in practical operations, and these are the reasons why he will not be nervous in any situation.
……
Fang Wei walked steadily from his seat to the podium. Wen Susu clapped and gave him the center seat on the podium.
The applause continued. Fang Wei picked up the chalk and wrote his name under the column of "Class Monitor".
He has never practiced writing on the blackboard specifically, but his handwriting is still very beautiful, with mature and powerful strokes, without the slightest hint of childishness.
Turning around and standing on the podium, he looked at everyone with a smile and began to introduce himself:
"Hello everyone, my name is Fang Wei, I'm from Donghua Village on Pineapple Island, and I'm here to run for the position of class monitor."
The boy is in the voice change period, and his voice is a little hoarse, but full of energy. Although the volume is not too high, it still sounds loud in the quiet classroom.
As the first student to introduce himself this morning, he left a deep impression on everyone because almost everyone who came later used his self-introduction template.
Seeing the calm and confident performance of this peer standing on the stage, everyone felt that it was both expected... and unexpected? It was expected because, in their imagination, the candidate should be so calm and confident, like the host on TV; and the unexpected thing was... we are all the same age, why are you so calm? ! Aren't you shy or nervous? !
The classmates in the class could not find an adjective like "temperament". In short, in everyone's eyes, Fang Wei on the stage looked like a senior student, but not like a peer.
After introducing himself, Fang Wei started to speak. Everyone, whether they were just spectators or other students who were preparing to run for election, pricked up their ears and listened attentively.
"I am standing here today, running for the position of class monitor with my passion for the class and my commitment to the growth of myself and the collective."
Hiss, this word choice... Dude, did you get full marks in Chinese? How can you say it like this?
“First, let me share my personal strengths.”
"In terms of grades, I was ranked first among all freshmen in my grade, and I got full marks in all subjects."
As soon as this sentence was said, the classmates were in an uproar. There could be no more powerful opening statement than this...Dude, you really got full marks in Chinese, and full marks in all subjects, and you are the first in the grade? !
"In terms of experience, I was also a class monitor in elementary school, so I have some experience in collaboration and serving the class. I am an extrovert and will take the initiative to communicate with everyone. I will do my best to help everyone solve their confusion and troubles in study or life. Similarly, I will assist the teacher's work, serve our class well, and create a good class atmosphere. We will learn and progress together."
There is a quite new term here – service class;
Perhaps other students did not hear the word clearly, but Wen Susu heard it clearly. What he said was not about managing the class, but serving the class. It seems like a difference of only one word, but the essence is completely different.
Fang Wei's understanding of class management coincides directly with her philosophy!
Isn't this the class monitor candidate that I like the most?
"...Finally, no matter what the result is, I love Class 2 and everyone. Thank you!"
After saying this, Fang Wei bowed to express his gratitude to everyone, then turned and left the podium, returning to his seat with steady steps.
After a while, everyone in the quiet class remembered to applaud.
Starting with Wen Susu, warm applause filled the classroom!
Fang Wei was not embarrassed when he went on stage, but when he returned to his seat and enjoyed the warm applause, he felt a little embarrassed... Shame on him, it was a dimensionality reduction attack.
Liu Zhiyi, who was oblivious to what was happening outside, also applauded after listening to his speech. Liu Zhiyi looked very impressed and exclaimed:
"Fang Wei, you said it well."
"Ah? Thank you."
Fang Wei's performance was beyond Liu Zhiyi's expectations. In her eyes, being able to take the initiative to go on stage was already super amazing, not to mention that he was able to speak so well after going on stage, and his grades were actually the best in the grade! I had never heard him take the initiative to say that before...
Liu Zhiyi didn’t know what it took to be the top student in a rural middle school, but it was definitely very impressive.
I couldn't help but look at my deskmate with a new respect, and felt that he was much better than I had imagined in every aspect.
The person who was most satisfied with the other party's performance was naturally Wen Susu.
Although he had already been chosen to be the class monitor, the process still had to be followed. It was hoped that he could take the lead so that the students behind him would be more courageous to take the stage.
Unexpectedly, Fang Wei's performance was better than expected. He was steady, confident, cool, and had a unique understanding of class management. He did not bring a speech, but the words that came out of his mouth were the most standard model of a campaign speech. He introduced himself, analyzed his strengths, and provided prospects. I think with Fang Wei as a benchmark, other students running for election will know what to say.
Thinking about it now, the "back door" she opened for him seemed a bit unnecessary. Even if there were other classmates running for the election, Wen Susu was sure that no one else would perform better than him.
Hmm... No, it's useful to give a heads up in advance, otherwise this brat probably wouldn't come up to run for election...
Wen Susu returned to the center of the podium and looked at everyone with a smile:
"Student Fang Wei said it very well. Our class leaders are not there to manage the class, but to serve the class. So, which student is interested in running for the election next?"
"..."
After the voice was spoken, the class fell into silence and subtle discussions again.
Wen Susu, who was left out on the stage, felt a pang in her heart when she saw this...
Oops, it’s true that Fang Wei started it, but it seems a bit too much, making others feel embarrassed to come up...
"What about the next student? Is there no one running for the position of class monitor? Other class cadre positions are also acceptable. Everyone, be more confident! Challenge yourself~!"
"..."
The people in the audience looked at each other, but no one wanted to go up.
Where's Cailing? Didn't she agree to run for the sports committee? Why didn't she run?
Fang Wei looked in her direction curiously, but saw Xu Cailing with her fists clenched against the edge of the table, her chair leaned back, her body half bent, as if she was ready to stand up, but was always stuck at 'ready to stand up'.
Well, it looks like he's nervous, probably reciting his lines...
While Wen Susu was thinking about how to save the situation, Xu Cailing, who was sitting in row 4 of group one and had been thinking about it for a long time, finally stood up bravely.
In an instant, the eyes of Wen Susu and her classmates were focused on Xu Cailing.
Before Xu Cailing stood up, she had never thought of this scene. Her heart was beating wildly, and her long and strong legs were a little weak. She wanted to sit back on the chair, and her face turned red. For a moment, she didn't know whether to sit back or walk up. "Cailing, come on!" Du Peipei, her deskmate, encouraged her warmly.
But it seems that Dupepe's encouragement is not very effective...
Xu Cailing looked at Fang Wei in the fourth row of the fourth group as if asking for help. When she encountered difficulties, she looked at him almost subconsciously.
The two looked at each other.
As they were too far away, Fang Wei naturally couldn't talk to her, but he clenched his fists and made a very obvious "come on" gesture to her.
Her uneasy heartbeat eased at this moment, as if she had absorbed the energy from him. Xu Cailing finally mustered up the courage, took a step to the side, and left her seat.
"Student Xu Cailing took the initiative to go on stage! Let's give her a round of applause!"
"Clap clap-"
The one who came on stage was a pretty girl. The applause from the class was no less than Fang Wei's just now. Fang Wei clapped his hands like Cailing did just now, and his palms were almost broken. He couldn't save energy, because Xu Cailing was staring at him. If he dared to be lazy, he would probably be poked in the back by her...
This is the second time Xu Cailing has stepped onto the podium today.
But her mood at this moment was different from that in the morning. After all, everyone had to go on stage to introduce themselves, but it was not the same as an election. It meant being looked at with scrutiny, and she was so nervous! !
If I had known I would be so nervous, I wouldn’t have boasted at noon…
But there is no other way. Now that we are up here, we can't just go down without saying anything. That would be a disgrace to Pineapple Island.
Fortunately, Fang Wei was the first to go on stage. With Fang Wei setting an example, she felt more at ease...
Xu Cailing went up to the stage and, without saying anything, picked up a piece of chalk and wrote her own name under the words "Sports Committee Member".
The handwriting is ugly, but the person is brave.
So when she turned around after writing, everyone was shocked to find that—
This pretty and lovely girl is running for the position of...Sports Commissioner?!
Wen Susu was also stunned, looking at Xu Cailing in disbelief. She wanted to remind her that maybe she wrote in the wrong place because she was nervous, but the girl's next words directly pushed the atmosphere to a climax:
"Hello everyone, my name is Xu Cailing, and I'm from Donghua Village on Pineapple Island. This time, I'm going to run for the position of class leader, the sports committee member!"
After she said this, the atmosphere in the class became quite lively, just like the atmosphere of the children at lunch. Everyone was now filled with various expressions such as disbelief, curiosity, suspicion, excitement, scrutiny, and surprise.
"Is this true? She wants to be the sports committee member?"
"Aren't all the sports committee members boys?"
"Is it wrong?"
……
"Everyone, be quiet and listen to what Cai Ling has to say first."
After Wen Susu finished speaking, the class finally quieted down, but everyone's eyes were still focused on Xu Cailing.
Even though Xu Cailing had anticipated the atmosphere at the moment, when it actually happened, her heart still couldn't help but beat fast, and her original belief began to waver -
Am I really not suitable to be a sports committee member?
Is it really outrageous for a girl to be a sports committee member?
But I really like sports, and I really want to be a sports committee member...
In this struggle between her conscience and her conscience, the helpless girl looked at Fang Wei again.
He didn't say anything or make any gestures, but just looked at her with a smile and trusting eyes, looking forward to her performance.
Xu Cailing suddenly remembered what Fang Wei had said to her very seriously in the cafeteria:
[Cai Ling, I support you. Not only will I vote for you, but I also think from the bottom of my heart that you are very suitable to be the sports committee member. I don’t think there is anyone in our class who loves sports more, is more talented, and is more capable of taking on this position than you.]
I am very suitable to be the sports committee member...
There is no one in the class who loves sports more, is more talented, or more capable of serving as a sports committee member than me...
Even if no one supports me, Fang Wei will vote for me, A Sheng will vote for me, Zhi Yi and Pei Pei will vote for me...
Gradually, the girl's lack of confidence disappeared. She took a deep breath and for the first time since she stepped onto the stage, she looked bravely at the teachers and classmates in the classroom. She looked into their eyes and said loudly:
"I didn't write it wrong, and you didn't hear it wrong. The position I'm running for this time is the Sports Committee Member!"
As soon as these words came out, Fang Wei's eyes lit up. He clearly noticed that compared to just now, Xu Cailing had become more brave and confident.
After all, Cailing was just a thirteen-year-old girl. No matter how outgoing and sociable she was, it was her first time standing on such an occasion, and she was running for a controversial position. It was impossible for her to not be nervous like himself. In fact, as long as she went on stage and bravely said that she wanted to run for the sports committee, in Fang Wei's heart, Cailing would be amazing.
In fact, Xu Cailing's performance was much better than he had imagined.
"Although my grades are not very good, I like sports very much. I am a fast runner, and I am also very good at long jump and swimming. Recently, I am also learning to surf... I, I love sports very much, and I also want to play ball, run and exercise with everyone... Although I am a girl, I may not be so quiet... But, but I think girls may not be unable to be sports committee members."
“I hope everyone will vote for me, and then... thank you everyone!”
Perhaps the content of Xu Cailing's speech at this time was different from the lines she had prepared in her mind, but at least she bravely spoke out what was in her heart.
Especially the last sentence, "I think girls may not be unable to be sports committee members."
After she finished speaking, the expressions of many classmates in the class changed. They became serious and respectful. Even though Cai Ling's appearance was not as cold and cool as Liu Zhiyi, at this moment, in the hearts of many female classmates, she was so handsome!
After Xu Cailing finished speaking, she also bowed like Fang Wei, then quickly walked back to her seat.
This time, Wen Susu didn't need to lead the applause, the whole class burst into thunderous applause.
Fang Wei and A Sheng were about to break their palms—
The Pineapple Island heroine is so cool!
(End of this chapter)
